Women’s Basketball Holds Off Wheaton, 54-49, for Best Start in Program History

NORTON, Mass. – Suffolk women's basketball's outcome came down to the wire once again, but the story line did not change as the Rams composure down the stretch pushed the Rams to their sixth straight win, a 54-49 decision over Wheaton Saturday at the Emerson Gymnasium. The 6-0 record is a best start to the season in Suffolk's women's basketball history. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 54 | Wheaton 49 
RECORDS: Suffolk (6-0) | Wheaton (2-3)  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Suffolk jumped out to an 8-2 lead that turned into a 17-9 advantage at the end of the first 10 minutes. Allison Bono was responsible for seven of the Rams' first frame points. 
• The blue-and-gold took a 14-point lead, 26-12, at the 7:21 mark that was quickly eliminated as the Lyons scored 10 unanswered to make it a two-possession, 28-22, game with 3:33 to play before halftime. Olivia Verdile's triple ended Suffolk's scoring lull before Cheynne Colbert converted a trip to the free throw line into two points that made it a 31-24 game in the Rams' favor as the teams went to the locker room. 
• Wheaton commanded the pace of play out of the break to make it a one-point margin, 33-32, at the 5:47 mark. The Rams were in charge the rest of the third quarter as they outscored the Lyons, 9-2, to hold a 42-34 lead with 30 minutes in the books.
• Scoring draughts for Suffolk in the fourth allowed Wheaton to catch up and tie the game at 44-all with 4:21 left on the clock. The score would even again at 49 less than two minutes later before a Jordan Moreau layup pushed the blue-and-gold back in front, 51-49. The Lyons' attempts were off the mark the rest of the way, which allowed the visitors to clinch their sixth straight win. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Bono produced a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double with three assists, two steals and one block. The junior guard shot 7-for-14 on the day in 39 minutes of action. 
• Moreau finished with 10 points, five boards and three helpers. 
• Ariana Ingram added eight points and nine caroms. 
• Tatiana Tune tallied six points and two rebounds, while Akiyah Brown and Olivia Verdile pitched in six points apiece off the bench. 
• Suffolk outrebounded Wheaton, 46-41.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk is off to the program's best start in program history at 6-0. 
• The six wins in a row is the most since stringing six victories together March 6-25, 2021.
• Suffolk is off to the best start to a season in the progra
• Suffolk defeated Wheaton for the second time in program history and in as many meetings. 
• The Rams are now 2-4 versus the Lyons all-time in a series that started Jan. 12, 2006.
• Suffolk played in Norton, Massachusetts for the first time since Nov. 16, 2014. 
• The blue-and-gold captured its first win over Wheaton in Norton, Massachusetts, in program history. 
• The Rams are now 1-3 on the road versus the Lyons. 
• Bono logged her second collegiate double-double, second of the season.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk brings its win streak back to Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court Tuesday, Nov. 25 for a pre-Thanksgiving tangle with Lasell at 6:00 p.m.